NEW:
LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Abortion opponents say they're dropping a petition drive to prohibit a second-trimester procedure in Michigan. State election officials said the campaign didn't produce enough valid signatures. Right to Life of Michigan says it won't contest the conclusion when the Board of State Canvassers meets Friday. Abortion opponents want to outlaw dilation and evacuation in most instances, a procedure in which a fetus is removed in pieces with a surgical instrument. Under Michigan law, an initiative goes to the Legislature if advocates submit at least 340,000 valid signatures. But in this case, the state elections bureau said many signatures were disqualified.
ORIGINAL POST:
LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan anti-abortion groups are launching their ballot drive to restrict a common second-trimester abortion procedure they say is "barbaric."
Petitions went into circulation Wednesday.
They would prohibit what anti-abortion advocates call "dismemberment" abortions, known medically as dilation and evacuation. There's an exception to protect a woman's life.
The procedure, in which the fetus is removed in pieces with a surgical instrument, was used in 1,908, or 7.1%, of Michigan abortions in 2018.
If volunteers for Right to Life and churches collect 340,000 valid signatures within six months — which seems likely — the Republican-led Legislature could enact the ban despite Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's opposition.
Anti-abortion activists have successfully used the maneuver four times before.
Abortion-rights advocates say the restriction would handcuff doctors' ability to provide safe care to patients.
